Books Special Instructions Are your items still in usable condition? Donate them! Visit our Donation Locations page for more information. Paperback books can be placed in your recycling cart. Hardcover books should be donated or placed in the landfill cart. You can also remove the cover, place the cover in the landfill cart, and then recycle the pages. Ways to Reduce Check Out from the Library Take advantage of your library and check out books. Checking out books, instead of buying them brand-new, saves paper and keeps more old books out of landfills. Ways to Reuse Free Little Library Free Little Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. There are over 32,000 registered little libraries that are spread out across all fifty states and seven countries. Find a free little library. Make a Donation Drop off unwanted books at a charity or thrift shop. You can donate children books to the Boys and Girls Club and academic books to the Bridge to Asia program. Sell Your Books Consider selling old books at a yard sale or to a bookstore that sells used books. There are also online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay or AbeBooks. Did You Know? The Environmental Impact of Books Two billion books are purchased annually in the United States. Keep in mind that one tree makes only about 25 books.